Gang-
I got back on Sunday afternoon from Prince William Sound, dog-tired and still wet & cold. Yes it was ugly weather as only PWS can turn out, rain/fog the whole time, usually a 2-3 ft. chop. Still I got in two stalks, the first one I was back-up on. We spent too long/got too close trying to determine whether it was a bear or just a stump. By the time Tony & myself got to shore, I'm fairly certain that Mr. Bear determined that our intentions were hazardous & hightailed it for the brush.
The second one was to be my bear and I fully expected that I was going to deck him. We managed to spot him in one of the few breaks in the fog/rain from about 1/4 mile out. We ran about 1/4 mile downwind before launching the Zodiac and snuck up the beach with a stiff breeze in our faces, fully expecting to turn the corner & find Mr. Bear ambling along at about 100 yds distance. Well something must have clued him, since he pulled a disappearing act also. We picked a good ambush site & waited a couple of hours to see if he'd return, but no soap. He would've been a good one, had a track about 5" wide. Anyway, I thought you all would like the report, and I do have some good news. My bear bait got hit while I was gone; my buddy is out there now hunting it, (I've got duty tonight so I'm stuck here).
BTW, gun/load: Ruger M77, stainless/synthetic, in .300 RSAUM, 180 gr Swift Sirrocco/60.0 gr H4350. Take care.
-SSG Klaus